Second MMJ Bill Introduced in Pennsylvania Legislature

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In an attempt to get around obstructionists in the state House of Representatives who have been trying to either kill or stall a medical marijuana legalization bill, three state representatives in Pennsylvania on Tuesday introduced a new companion measure with the hope of getting MMJ approved.

The new bill is much narrower than the original, and akin to New York and Minnesota, prohibits smokeable MMJ, as well as edibles. It would also limit the number of dispensaries statewide to just 20.

The introduction of a new bill is arguably a sign of growing desperation among MMJ backers, since an earlier measure passed the state Senate with ease before hitting a wall in the House Health Committee.

An attempt was underway last week to force a vote on the full House floor, since proponents knew they had the votes to get it passed. But at the last minute, Republican House leaders moved the bill to the Rules Committee, and signaled that it wouldn’t be voted on there until the fall at the earliest, according to Capitol insiders. Thus the bill remains stalled in committee.